Delaware State Officials, Partnership for a Child-Safe Internet and Verizon Team Up to Protect Children on the World Wide Web

DOVER, Del. - In an effort to keep children safe on the Internet and raise awareness of how to avoid the dangers that lurk online, key Delaware officials joined forces with Partnership for a Child-Safe Internet and Verizon Saturday (Feb. 9) in an interactive town hall meeting and panel discussion. 

WPVI-TV 6 (ABC) Action News Reporter Lauren Wilson moderated the free, public event at the Sheraton Dover Hotel. 

"The Internet is a wonderful educational tool for our youth and a fun, easy way for them to interact with people their own age," said William R. Allan, president of Verizon Delaware.  "But it's important for parents and educators to teach our children about the Internet the same way we teach them about other things that require responsibility and care like driving a car. 

"Providing a safe online environment for children is a priority for Verizon," Allan added.  "We are proud to join the attorney general's office and other state and local leaders to bring this valuable information to the community."

Panelists for the forum were Delaware Deputy Attorney General Donald Roberts; Robin Raskin (The Internet Mom); Dennis Shaw, chief operating officer of Internet safety pioneer iSafe; Mary Kozakiewicz of The Alicia Project, whose daughter was a victim of an Internet luring and abduction; and Michael McKeehan, Verizon's executive director of Internet & technology policy.  Other special guests included Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, state Education Secretary Valerie Woodruff and Dover Mayor Carleton Carey Sr.

Participants discussed the challenges of keeping children safe on the Internet and the issues facing families in dealing with online safety and security.

Verizon is engaged in Internet safety on multiple fronts.  The company provides customers with an industry-leading slate of online cyber-security tools and educational programs that empower parents and children.  Verizon also works closely with law enforcement to assist with investigations involving crimes against children, and with partners such as iSAFE (http://www.isafe.org/verizon/) to deliver tools and information to various segments of the community.  To learn more about keeping your family safe online, visit www.thinkfinity.org/internetsafety for links to free resources.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 66 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 235,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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